Kohala Lighthouse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for this little slice of the North Kohala coast. We’re looking at a pretty tough run of surf for the next couple of weeks, with the wind being the main villain.

The standout spot on offer is Kohala Lighthouse, an advanced reef break that’s consistent and exposed to the north. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

The first week is a real struggle. From Monday the 17th right through to Sunday the 23rd, we’ve got a constant cross-shore breeze, mostly from the ENE, blowing 20 to 35 km/h. This is putting a lumpy, cross-chop on everything. The swell is a mix of short-period, wind-driven stuff from the ENE, mostly 3ft to 8ft, but the wind is just wrecking it. The combined wave energy is moderate, but the quality is poor. It’s basically a write-off for paddle surfing. Honestly, with that wind and the beach/reef setup, this looks more interesting for kite surfing than a proper surf session.

There’s a slight lull on Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st with smaller 3ft to 3ft swell, but it’s still cross and choppy.

Then from Saturday the 22nd, the swell actually picks up a bit, hitting 7ft to 8ft, and by Sunday the 23rd it’s up to 6ft with a bit more energy, but the wind remains a stubborn 30 km/h cross-shore. It’s frustrating because there’s some size, but the conditions are just ugly.

The real standout, the only one worth getting a little excited about, is Thursday, the 27th of August. We finally see a shift. The swell from the east jumps to 10ft with a long period of 12 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell. The combined energy rockets up to a strong reading. The wind eases to a moderate 25 km/h cross-shore, which is still not ideal, but a massive improvement over the fresh breeze we’ve been dealing with. The forecast says "marginal," but with that size and period, it’s a long-range call that could be good. For this spot, a 10ft, east swell with a 12-second period is the best we’ll see. This is a big wave for this break though, so it’s strictly for experts. Beginners should stay well clear.

Friday the 28th holds size with a 10ft to 12ft swell from the ENE and NE, but the period drops to 10-11 seconds and the wind kicks back up to 30 km/h cross-shore, making it lumpy again. That energy is still strong, but the wind is messing with it.

After that, the swell backs off. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are back to smaller, wind-affected junk. Monday the 1st of September has a 7ft to 10ft swell from the east, but with a 30 km/h cross-shore, it’s not looking clean.

So, to put it simply: the first week is a total loss. The only real window that looks promising is Thursday the 27th of August, with that long-period groundswell and moderate wind. Keep your fingers crossed for that one.

Rusty.

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